The ocean / By P. H. Gosse.

  • Gosse, Philip Henry, 1810-1888.
Date:
[pref. 1845]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ocean / By P. H. Gosse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    small, and tlieir flight so quick, that they escaped the shots fired at them. The same nests are said also to he found in deep caverns at the foot of the highest mountains in the middle of Java, and at a distance from the sea. * * * The nests are placed in horizontal rows at different depths, from fifty to five hundred feet. Their value is chiefly deter- mined by the uniform fineness and delicacy of their texture ; those that are white and transparent being most esteemed, and fetching often in China their weight in silver. These nests are a considerable object of traffic among the Javanese; and many are employed in it from their infancy. The birds, hav- ing spent near two months in preparing their nests, lay each two eggs, which are hatched in about fif- teen days. When the young birds become fledged, it is thought time to seize upon their nests, which is done regularly thrice a year, and is effected by means of ladders of bamboo and reeds, by which the people descend into the cavern; hut when it is very deep, rope-ladders are preferred. This ope- ration is attended with much danger, and several break their necks in the attempt.” * Some of the caves on the coast of Java are only to be reached by a perpendicular descent of many hundred feet, on these frail ladders of cane, while the sea rages with fury far beneath the feet. When attained, the cavern must be explored by torchlight, the adventurous fowler securing a precarious footing over the damp and slippery surface of the irregular recesses where a false step would plunge him down * Embassy to China, i. 287.